Deric could earn professional debut

Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric was left by himself to face shots in finishing drills on Tuesday, with starting goalkeeper Pat Onstad sidelined following Saturday's late-game collision and backup Tally Hall still hobbled by a bad ankle. With the next match just four days away, the Dynamo could take the field in Pennsylvania on Saturday with Deric in goal.

In Tuesday's injury report, Onstad was listed as doubtful and Hall as questionable, although both could be upgraded in status by Friday's injury report or by game time on Saturday. The Dynamo will train in Houston on Thursday and Friday before traveling to Philadelphia.

Deric, in his second season with the club after signing as the team's first home-grown player in March 2009, has yet to make a competitive appearance as a professional but has served as the backup on the 18-man roster on numerous occasions. He has seen action in preseason games in both 2009 and 2010 and played the second half of the Ryan-Sanders Shootout in June, making one save as the Dynamo rallied for a 2-1 win.

The 22-year-old, a 2007 graduate of Klein High School, could become the first home-grown player in Dynamo history to start an MLS match if he gets the nod against the Union. Midfielder Francisco Navas Cobo, signed earlier this year at the age of 18, became Houston's first home-grown player to appear in an MLS game in April and start an Open Cup match in June. Deric said he would relish the opportunity.

"If I get the chance, I'll be ready," Deric said. "I'm hungry to play. It's what I've been working for all year, so if the team needs me on Saturday, I'm ready to go."

If neither Onstad nor Hall is healthy for Saturday's match, the Dynamo have the option of calling up a goalkeeper from the league pool to join Deric on the game-day roster. In their five seasons, the Dynamo have only had four goalkeepers see competitive action.